Do you ever get back pain in your lower back? We depend so much on our back that sometimes we take it for granted. Statistics tell us that 80% of the population is affected by low back pain at some point in their lifetime. It is estimated that over $50 billion is spent every year in the treatment of lower back pain. Most reported back pain is due to job related injuries. There are many treatments for lower back pain including surgery and natural therapeutic methods. One interesting method being employed is with the use of massage chairs.
What is lower back pain? Lower back pain can be either acute or chronic. Acute is a short term problem lasting a few days to a few weeks. Chronic back pain can last weeks or months. Some forms are progressive and can go on for years.
There are two schools of thought on treatments which are blending together more and more. The blending of Eastern medicine and Western medicine has increased the options available. This is very good for patients as now they have more natural therapies as options as well. Although in certain situations surgery may be the only option.
Lower back pain is most often treated by Doctors of Osteopath or Doctors of Chiropractic medicine. These are both specialists in musculoskeletal problems. Doctors of Osteopath are experts on joints whereas Doctors of Chiropractic medicine are experts in spinal health. Either can treat lower back pain.
Some conditions such as degenerated disc disease or back injuries can be of a more chronic problem. These types of conditions can cause scar tissue which makes the soft tissues more brittle. In these situations the soft tissues need to be stimulated and stretched. Some of these more chronic conditions have been where massage chairs have been used to help improve the flexibility of these harder muscles.
In most situations where the soft tissue has sufficient strength (i.e. not damaged from an injury) massage chairs are used to help increase the flexibility of the soft tissues. Normally, your spine will evenly distribute your weight across the spinal column. Lower back pain is the result of a concentration of force or uneven distribution of weight on the lumbar region.
When people have low back pain the weight of their body has been disproportionately put on a small area. This small area is usually the lower back that takes the full weight of the body. Normally the weight of the body is distributed across the spine. This causes those muscles to become stiff which then need treatment to make them more flexible.
Many natural treatments are geared toward restoring flexibility in the muscles and other soft tissues. Massage chair therapy seeks to stretch out these muscles to help restore flexibility. Massage chairs are used to stimulate the lower lumbar and other muscles of the back to help redistribute the weight properly.
Massage chairs come with a variety of techniques to help with spinal health. Many massage chairs have traction systems. For instance, you can stretch out the lower body from the hips to the ankles. There are also stretching systems for the arms and shoulders. Massage chairs also have options to apply heat to different parts of the body.
Massage chairs are used to warm up the lower back muscles and to make them more flexible. This helps to improve range of motion of the spine. Massage chairs are used by chiropractors for their patients prior to spinal adjustments. This makes the adjustment easier when the muscles are not stiff. There are a number of positive treatments with massage chairs and they can also be used in the home for periodic relief of back aches and pain.
Help to provide relief to your low back pain from a massage chair from a top manufacturer. Browse through our Massage Chair Comparison to view chairs compared by massage technique. Find the best Massage Chair to assist you maintain the health of your back.